Prospective study of safety and effectiveness in the use of radiofrequency ablation for incompetent great saphenous vein ≥12 mm.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in incompetent great saphenous vein (GSV) according to its diameter. METHODS: This was a prospective single-center study including all patients treated with RFA from September 2014 to December 2015. The sample was divided according to the maximum GSV diameter measured on duplex ultrasound scan (A, <12 mm; B, ≥12 mm). Second-generation catheters (ClosureFast; Covidien, Mansfield, Mass) and tumescent anesthesia were used. Clinical stage (according to Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathophysiology [CEAP] classification), quality of life (measured by the 14-item Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire), and pain on visual analog scale were recorded before the procedure and during follow-up. Technical success was defined as GSV occlusion on duplex ultrasound scan. Safety was defined as incidence and type of adverse events at 10 days, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months. RESULTS: There were 257 patients included, 183 (71%) with GSV diameter <12 mm and 74 (29%) with GSV diameter ≥12 mm. Mean GSV diameter was 8 ± 2 mm (4-11 mm) and 14 ± 2 mm (12-21 mm), respectively. Before the procedure, although a tendency toward greater clinical severity was observed in group B, no significant differences were found in the percentage of patients in C4 and C5 categories (A, 10%; B, 22%), median pain perception (A, 40; B, 39), or median quality of life value on the 14-item Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire scale (A, 27; B, 27). The rate of GSV occlusion at 1 month (n = 221) was 97% in group A and 100% in group B (P = .325); at 6 months (n = 158), it was 97% and 98%, respectively (P > .999); and at 12 months (n = 90), it was 99% and 96% (P = .481). There was a significant improvement in pain and quality of life in both groups, without differences between them. Finally, no differences between groups were found in terms of adverse events. Paresthesias were the most frequent event (A, 4%; B, 5%; P = NS), which disappeared during follow-up in half of the cases. Regarding major adverse events, there was only one case of deep venous thrombosis in group B. CONCLUSIONS: RFA is safe and effective for the treatment of GSV ≥12 mm at midterm.

Open Versus Endovascular Treatment for Patients with Post-Carotid Endarterectomy Restenosis: Early and Long-term Results.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to assess and compare the short- and long-term results of carotid artery stenting (CAS) and redo surgery in patients with restenosis after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). METHODS: From January 1988 to December 2014, 44 consecutive patients were treated for carotid restenosis (CR): 23 redo-CEA (52.3%) and 21 CAS (47.7%). Data from these patients were prospectively collected in a dedicated database. Early results and 3-year end points were analyzed and compared between groups with χ2 test, Kaplan-Meier curves, and Breslow test. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics and comorbidity were similar in both groups, except for arterial hypertension and chronic renal insufficiency which were higher in the CAS group. CR was symptomatic in 7 patients in the redo-CEA group (30.4%) and 1 (4.8%) in CAS (P = 0.04). No differences were found in the time period between primary CEA and reintervention, critical carotid stenosis, or contralateral carotid occlusion. Median follow-up was 61.5 months. In the redo-CEA group, 1 patient (4.3%) had a perioperative transient ischemic attack and 3 (13%) experienced cranial nerve injury with complete regression at 30 days. No differences were found between groups in terms of early and long-term mortality, neurologic morbidity, and overall morbidity. The rate of secondary restenosis and freedom from reintervention was similar in both groups during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Both CAS and redo-CEA are suitable options for patients with CR. CAS might be the treatment of choice due to the risk of cranial nerve injuries in redo-CEA. When CAS is contraindicated, redo-CEA remains a safe and effective treatment option.

Comparison of popliteal artery aneurysm therapies.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical treatment of popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) has advanced over time. Constant development of new endovascular techniques has converted these into the most attractive methods available today. However, results for each endovascular procedure are still limited, and available data have emerged from studies examining only a small number of cases. The present retrospective review was designed to examine early and late results for PAA treatment and to identify possible factors associated with graft patency. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of all PAAs treated from January 1993 to December 2013. Symptomatic and asymptomatic PAAs >2 cm treated using open surgery or an endovascular procedure were included. Kaplan-Meier curves and the Breslow test were used to analyze data. RESULTS: A total of 171 aneurysms were treated in 142 men (mean age, 69.3 years); of these, 53.3% were asymptomatic and 18.7% presented as acute ischemia. Saphenous vein was used for bypass in 57.9% of the patients, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) in 23.4%, and a stent graft in 18.7%. In the open surgical group, a popliteal-popliteal bypass was performed in 37.4% and a distal anastomosis to a tibial vessel was required in 14.4%. Good runoff (two to three vessels) was present in 69%. Perioperative mortality (30 days) was 1.8%. Of eight early occlusions recorded, five (2.9%) underwent reoperations. Major amputations were needed in five patients (all with previous acute ischemia). Median follow-up for the entire cohort was 49 months (range, 1-228 months). Primary and secondary patency rates at 24, 36, and 60 months were 76.3% and 89.5%, 73.4% and 87.4%, and 68.3% and 80.9%, respectively. Popliteal-popliteal bypasses showed better primary patency at 24 months when saphenous vein was used vs ePTFE (94.9% vs 79%; P = .04); however, similar patency rates were recorded for short ePTFE bypasses and stent grafts (79% vs 79.7%). On multivariate analysis, only poor runoff emerged as an independent factor for worse primary patency (hazard ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-7.2; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: The open repair of PAA offers good long-term results, especially in asymptomatic patients, those undergoing elective surgery, and those showing good runoff. Given the also good midterm outcomes of endovascular treatment, this may be a feasible option in selected patients.

Endovascular treatment of external iliac artery occlusive disease: midterm results.

PURPOSE: To report midterm outcomes for endovascular treatment of external iliac artery (EIA) occlusive disease and assess possible factors affecting patency. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 99 consecutive patients (91 men; mean age 67.3 years) with claudication (n=70) or critical limb ischemia (n=29) owing to occlusive EIA disease treated at our center from January 2005 to June 2012. The majority of lesions (79/108) were TASC A/B. Lesions were a mean 42.2 mm long (range 10-125); 43/108 affected the distal third of the EIA. Balloon angioplasty alone was performed in 7 limbs, while the remaining 101 lesions were stented (65 self-expanding, 24 balloon-expandable, and 12 covered). Clinical and hemodynamic follow-up was performed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after therapy and yearly thereafter. The factors examined were procedure characteristics and patency rates. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 27.5 months (range 1-89), there were 2 (1.9%) early occlusions followed by a successful reintervention, 4 late occlusions, and 5 hemodynamic failures followed by 7 reinterventions. These events led to primary and secondary patency rates at 30 months of 89.7% and 94.1%, respectively. No differences in patency rates were detected according to age, clinical state, or comorbidity. Use of covered stents (p=0.006) was the only variable associated with lower primary patency rates. CONCLUSION: Endovascular therapy to treat TASC A/B lesions of the EIA yielded good short and midterm patency and low early morbidity and mortality. Lesions involving the distal third of the EIA treated by simple angioplasty ± stenting fared worse. No clinical factors could be correlated with patency.